CNCR: Research Centre for
Computational Neuroscience and Cognitive Robotics

Cognitive neuroscience and robotic intelligence

Translational neuroscience and advances in robotics

Computational Neuroscience and Cognitive Robotics

Computations in humans and machines

The Centre is the only one of its kind in the UK to bring together cognitive neuroscientific, computational and cognitive robotic expertise, aimed at translational neuroscience and advances in robotics.

Our research projects involves collaborations between the Schools of Psychology, Computer Science, Sport and Exercise Sciences, Mechanical, Chemical, and Manufacturing Engineering, Electronic, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Medicine and Biosciences. Our links with medical neuroscience in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital near to the University mean that the CNCR Centre is in an advantageous position to generate a uniquely integrated approach to brain rehabilitation. We aim to integrate several interdisciplinary teams to develop a greater understanding of brain function and human and artificial learning. This will have the dual advantage of innovating treatment for patients, but also exploit the knowledge to advance robotic development.

Access to state-of-the-art facilities is critical for this rapidly developing field and we have been successful in acquiring high resolution facilities both for measuring (fMRI, EEG) and intervening in brain activity (tDCS, tACS, TMS), eye movement, kinematic motion analysis, haptic interfaces, virtual reality (VR), and multisensory stimulation. We also have advanced platforms for robotics including multi-fingered, lightweight robot hands, robot arms, humanoid robots, and small mobile robots to support a wide range of investigations.

Funding for the Centre totals around £7 million and comes from a wide range of sources: all relevant UK Research Councils (BBSRC, EPSRC, ESRC, MRC), UK charities (the Stroke Association, the Wellcome Trust, the Royal Society), international bodies (the EU, ERC, Marie Curie, the Human Science Frontier Program, DAAD).